Local News

HILLSVILLE — Two Carroll County water projects advanced, at least on paper, as the Public Service Authority approved financing documents Monday.
County officials made headway on the Coon Ridge water project, approving the process of awarding the contract to the lowest bidder, contingent on federal funding agency Rural Development signing off as well, according to PSA documentation.
Authority members also adopted the loan resolution required to pay for a water system installation at Interstate 77’s Exit 1 at Lambsburg.

While investigators from two states try to get information out of the last person known to have seen a missing mother of four, well-wishers on Sunday kept a social media page dedicated to Desia Rae George lit up with Mother’s Day wishes.
On Sunday alone, there were 26 posts to the “Find Desia Rae George” page on Facebook, not counting other thoughts and prayers not specific to the holiday.

INDEPENDENCE — The first of numerous sets of correctional officers began their three-month training Friday at the River North Correctional Center in Grayson County.
Ben Wright, warden of the soon-to-open prison, updated the Grayson Board of Supervisors on the progress of the facility as he begins building his staff of nearly 350.
“This has been a night that’s been long coming for us,” said Supervisors Chairman Mike Maynard during the board’s regular monthly meeting last week.

HILLSVILLE — Jonathan Lee McGrady officially won the Democratic Party nomination this week to run for the 6th District House of Delegates seat this fall.
The Carroll County attorney and tree farmer hopes to succeed Del. Annie B. Crockett-Stark (R-Wytheville), who is retiring. He was unopposed in his bid for the nomination.
McGrady, 43, has practiced law with his father, Joe McGrady, in his hometown of Hillsville since graduating from William & Mary in 1995.

HILLSVILLE — The new natural gas pipeline manager and utility specialist made his second appearance before the Carroll Industrial Development Authority on his first day on the job May 6.
The first occasion that Earl Hagee spoke to the IDA occurred back in the fall when he was still an employee of MasTec, the company that won the contract to install the pipeline to serve Mohawk as a job retention effort.

ASHEBORO, N.C. — Picked up by police coming out of a pawn shop in Asheboro, the suspect in an April 29 bank robbery in Ramseur and the last known person to see a missing Fries, Va., woman remains in custody.
The apprehension of Matthew Steven Jones, 34, came after a quick-thinking worker at Garner Brothers Pawn Shop on North Fayetteville Street notified local authorities, according to reports from the Asheboro Courier-Tribune newspaper.

FRIES — While a dog barked somewhere outside the meeting, as if in protest, Fries Town Council at its April meeting took action on an ordinance to address animal noises and other responsibilities of pet owners.
Council members had heard concerns from citizens for some time about noise from barking dogs.

INDEPENDENCE — A local woman could win a handicapped-accessible van through a national contest sponsored by the non-profit National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association.
Althea Estey of Independence is paralyzed after what a friend describes as a bizarre accident.
Estey, a well-known local artist and community volunteer, is listed on the NMEDA’s “Local Heroes” contest website. The contest is in recognition of Mobility Awareness Month.
Her friend, Taphne Taylor, is encouraging people to vote for Estey so she can win the van.

INDEPENDENCE – After recommendations from the county administrator and a few additional adjustments, Grayson County Supervisors have closed the gap in the 2013-14 budget by more than $1.2 million.
Supervisors held their second budget work session on May 1 and began the night facing a much more manageable $240,000 deficit between projected revenues and expenditures for the FY 2014 budget.